Gate-engine



G. B. VARNUM..

GATE ENGINE.

nrucmou man nov. zs. ma..

1,367,931. Patented Feb. s, 1921.

l f f f f f 1 f y f 1 f l f 'a citizen of the PATENT oEFlcE.

GEORGE B. VARNUM, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

GATE-ENGINE.

Application led November 29, 1918.

To all ywho-1a it lmay concer/n:

Be it known that I, (lrEoneE B. VARNUM, United States residing at Los Angeles, in the county of laos Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gate-Ingines, of which the following is a specification.

'.lhis invention relates to mechanisms for opening and closing doors and the like; and a primary object of the invention is the provision of mechanisms whereby a door or the like may be opened and closed by power operation, and yet provide for allowing manual operation of the door in case of necessity or convenience. It will be understood that this invention may be applied to any kind of a door, or gate, or the like, of any type, as either the swinging or sliding type. For purposes of illustration and description of the invention I describe the mechanism as applied to a swinging door or gate; but I do not thereby limit my invention to such application.

As applied to a swinging door, the mechanism of a preferred form of device embodying my invention includes an engine mechanism whose function is to oscillate (move back and forth) a door-operating member or arm to which the door is normally connected by a means which is releasable or will yield and break the connection when the door is forcibly pushed upon by a person or when anything stands in the door opening and obstructs the closing of the door. This movable member or oscillating arm will oscillate continuously so long as the door is connected therefrom; but if the door is connected to the arm and the arm and door collie back together to normal position (the closed position of the door), then the engine mechanism ceases to oscillate the door-op erating arm and the arm and door remain in normal closed position. v

The means for actuating the engine and for controlling it, and thereby controlling the operation of the door, are preferably electrical in nature, although other forms of energy may be used.

With these preliminary observations in mind, I shall proceed to describe a specific form of device embodying my invention, as applied specifically to a swinging door and electrically actuated and controlled. For this purpose I refer to the accompanyingr drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a door Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8 1921.

serial No. 264,692.

equipped with my improved devices, and shows a diagram of the electrical wiring thereof; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2+2 of Fig. 1 showing the electrically operated lock for the door; Fig. 3` is an enlarged plan section taken as indicated bv lines 3-3 on Fig. 1 and on Fig. 4; Fig. 7l

is a vertical section taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a further enlarged detail sectlontakenas indicated by line 5 5 on Flg. 4; and Fig. 6 is a similarly further enlarged detail section taken as in dicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 4.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a swinging door. This door may typify any gate or door of like character; and may swing on an upper pivot 11 and a lower pivot shaft 12. The operating mechnism is preferably connected to and operates on the lower pivot shaft 12, although it may as Well be applied to the upper pivot shaft. The lower pivot shaft 12 carries at its upper end a door operating' arm 13 rigidly mounted on the pivot shaft. The pivot shaft 12 may rotate in suitable bearings, as a bearing 14 which may be set in the floor 15, and a lower bearing 1G carried by the framework 17 of the engine mechanism below. Shaft 12 at its lower end has an arm 18 thereon connected to a connecting rod 19 which connecting rod connects with crank pin 20 on the disk 21 wh'ose periphery has worm gear teeth 22; so that the part 21 is at one and the saine time a crank disk and a worm gear. A Worm 23 meshes with this worm gear 22, the worm 23,being mounted on a shaft 23 which is connected byv a suitable flexible joint 24 with shaft 25 of electric motor 26. The gears are arranged so that rotation of the motor causes rotation of member 21 in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3; and acomplete single operation of the mechanism embodies a complete rotation of the member 21, from the noraml position of rest shown in Fig;

ing any suitable inclosing box for the mechanism) and this switch may embody a stationary contact or contacts 31 and a movable contact arm 32 which has uponits back a member 33 adapted to be engaged andl pressed upon by an adjustable screw 34 mounted upon the part 19b of connecting rod 19. It will be readily seen by inspection of Figs. 3 and 4 that when rotation starts in the direction indicated by the arrow, the screw 34 will immediately ride upon the part 33 and will lforce switch arm 32 toward and into contact with contacts 31; and this movement of the switch will take place before the rotation has progressed but a very short distance; so that. upon supply of current to motor 26 and beginning of operation of the mechanism,'almost the very first action which takes place is the closure of switch S1. Now the switch S1 will be held closed during a short period, whilel the screw 34 is riding over the members 33; and this period of time is long enough to allow the arm 18 and door-operating arm 13 to have fairly begun their swinging motion around toward the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 before the contact arm 32 is finally allowed to open, which it does under action of the spring 35 which normally keeps it open. Rotation of the parts in the direction indicated will carry arm 18 and arm 13 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and then back again to the original position (the normal position of rest). Just as the parts reach 'their normal position of rest, a pin 40 on the under side of disk 21 comes into contact with surface 41 of a lever 42 mounted on vertical shaft 43 and throws that lever around to the position shown in Fig. 3, moving it toward the left from a position at the right of that shown in Fig. 3; which position to the right the lever 42 has occupied during the rotation of member 21. A switch operating arm 44 is also mounted on shaft 43 and this arm is connected bv rod 45 with movable switch arm 46. A spring 47 tends to throw all these parts in the direction toward the right in Fig. 3 and to throw switch arm 46 into engagement with contacts 48 and to thus close the switch which is designated S2. When the parts are in the normal position of rest it will be seen that the switch S2 is held open; but it will be observed that as soon as the parts start rotation the switch S2 is allowed to be closed by the spring 47, the pin 40 moving away :from lever 42. as soon as rotation has started. The disposition of surface 41 on lever 42 is such that the switch S2 is quickly opened when pin 40 reaches a position of contact with surface 41; and

the whole mechanism is so arranged, that including a brake band 5() one end of which is connected to brake operating rod 51 which rod is pivotally connected to switch operating arm 44; the arrangement being such that when the parts are thrown to their normal position shown in Fig. 3, then the band 50 is forcibly contracted and the brake is thrown into operation to quickly stop the motor. However, the retarding influence of the brake is of course not sufcient to prevent the motor starting when current is supplied to it.

The door 10 is capable of swinging independently of door operating arm 13. On the lower edge of the door I may mount a plate 55. This plate may be rigidly attached to the door in any suitable manner, and it may form a bearing which takes the upper rcduced end 12 of shaft 12, this upper reduced end of the shaft forming thepivot upon which the door swings when it swings independently of arm 13. I provide a suitable releasable means, preferably a yielding connection means D between the door and arm 13, which means may embody a spring pressed detent 56 pressed down by spring 57 into a V-shaped recess or notch 58 in the upper surface of arm 13, the lower end of detent 56 being similarly V-shaped. The configuration of the V-shaped end and the strength of spring 57 determine the force which will be necessary to detach door 10 from the arm 13. Whenever door 10 and arm 13 are in line with each other, a special switch S3 is open; whereas when the door and arm 13 are not in alinement this switch S3 is closed. Switch S3 comprises two contacts 60 and 61, the movable contact 61 being operated by a plunger 62 which has a cone-shaped lower end. This cone-shaped lower end rides up on the upper surface Vof arm 13, and by doing s0 raises contact 61 out of engagement with contact 60. The spring 63 normally presses the two contacts together whenever the door is not in position over plate 13.

The apparatus operates as described in the following: Current to motor 26 may be initially supplied by the momentary closure of either a push button switch S4 mounted on the gate 10 itself or va push button switch SS mounted at any convenient point and under the control of a person who has control of the door. Thee switches S4 and Ss I refer to as push buttons as they are the most convenient type of normally open the motor 26.

2 5 sition. Now the switch Sa 75 and 76.

tively.

from its position on 13 is swung ing of switch S2 only been momentarily closed at the begin- 5 7 2 which extends to push button S5. From this push button a wire 73 leads to wire 74 which leads to the other side of the motor. Also connected to wire 71 there is another wire 75 which leads to push button S4, an-

10 other wire 76 leading back from that push button S and Vconnecting to said wire 74 which leads to motor 26. Thus it will be seen that the momentary closure of either switch S4 or switch S will supply current to As soon as the motor has started o eration the switch S2 immediately closes. i witch and 78 across the two wires 76 and 75; so

that as soon as switch S2 is closed, then, re-

20 gardless of whether either switch S* or S is kept closed, current w1ll still continue to be' supplied to the motor, and the motor will continue to rotate until this switch S2 is opend when the parts reach their normal pois also connected in parallel with the other three switches S2, S* and S5, which will be seen are all connected in parallel relation. Switch S3 is connected bv wires 79 and 80 to the wires his switch S3 is normally open and is only closed when the door 10 and arm 13 are not together.

The lock L forthe door, shown in detail iin Fig. 2, comprises a spring pressed latch 35 bolt 85 and a solenoid or other electro-mag net 86 adapted when energized to retract the latch bolt. Wires 87 and 88 connect so- 4 lenoid 86 to wire 75 (and thus to the power lead 71) and to one side of switch S1, res ec- From the other Side of switch t 1 a wire 89 leads to the other power lead wire 70. It has heretofore been explained how switch S1 is closed immediately upon the beginning of movement; and a closure of this switch 45 energizes solenoid 86 and causes the immediate retraction of bolt 85. This retraction ot bolt 85 takes place before arm 18 and arm 13 and door 10 have moved appreciably, due to the fact that the connecting rod 19 starts dead center. Thus, upon the initial movement of the. mechamsm, the bolt 85 is immediately retracted, allowing the door to be opened. Upon further movement, the door-operating arm around to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the door will normally swing with the `arm 13, swinging out to the position shown in dotted lines and then immediately beginning to swing closed 60 again, to the position shown in full line in Flg. Upon reaching the position shown in the full lines in Fig; 3, the mechanism immediately comes to rest, due to the open- (swltches S4 and S5 having S2 is connected by ywires 77' `alined themselves,

ning of theoperation). Thus, yunder normal condltions, and when the actuation is started by a momentary closure of either switch S4 or switch S", the door will be moved open and then immediately moved to its closed position again and when it reaches the closed position the latch bolt 85 will automatically lock the door, and the door'will be left in its closed locked position. Now in actual practice I do not use both the latch bolt 85 and the switch St in a single installation.4 The latch'bolt is only used where the door is under control of some person, as a dooror gate-keeper.; and the push button S* on the door or gate itself is only used when the door is designed to be opened by anyone desiringto pass through it. This is true, for instance, of heavy entrance doors to buildings, hotels, and the like. By the use ot switch S* any person can set in operation the power mechanism which will open and close th door. n

Suppose now that something has hindered the closing ot the door. This may be caused either by some object or person being caught between the door and the door frame as the door closes, or may be caused by a wilful physical opening of the door or gate by a person who perhaps reaches the door just yas it is closing and does not wish to wait for the power mechanism to complete a closure ofthe door and then again open it. Pressure exerted on the door will release the yielding device D shown in lFig. 5, and the door will then swing open independently of' the arm 13; but when the door is removed from the arm 13 switch S3 is immediately closed; and the closure of this switch closes the circuit to motor 26 regardless and independentof switch S2; so that as long as the door is out of proper alinement with the arm 13 the 4motor will continue operation and the door operating, arm. 13 will continue oscillating back and forth between its two extreme positions. However, the door, after having been thus opened, cannot open any farther than a certain limit, which corresponds to the limiting open position of arm 13. F or instance, I provide a stop- 10a which limits the opening movement of the door to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. The door having been manually opened and having stopped against the stop 10a. the arm 13 in its next out-ward oscillation will again pick up the door. The arm will move into )roper alined position under the door and t e spring pressed detent 56 will again take hold, and then on the inward movement of arm 13 the door will be car- I'ied with the arm toward the closed normal position. As soon as the arm and door have it will be seen that switch S3 is immediately opened; and switch S2 will not be opened until the door reaches its normal closed position. Thus, the combined reol action of the switches S3 and S2 is this: that both the door and arm 13 must simultaneously and together reach the normal closed position ot' rest ot' the door and of the mechanism before the mechanism will cease operation. The door and arm having once reached the normal position together, the mechanism ceases operation as hereinbefore described, leaving the door closed.

If the door is standing in its normal closed position and a person wishes to open the door quickly without waiting for power operation, he may push against the door and forcibly open it, thus det-aching the door from the arm 13. Removal of the door from its normal position relative to arm 13 will of course immediately close switch S3 and, immediately supply motor 26 with current. Consequently, as soon as the door is thus manually opened, the arm 13 will start its oscillating movement and will move out to its limiting position and there pick up the door and then carry it back to its closed position again.

If, while the door or gate is being closed, it is manually opened, any number'of times in succession, the gate operating arm 13 will keep up its oscillation and will not cease movement until the door is linally brought to normal closed position.

Having described a preferred Vform of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism, releasable means connecting the door with said member, and meansy controlled by the relative movement of the member with respect to the door when released for controlling said power mechanism. l

2. In combination with a door, ower mechanism to move the door inclu ing a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism, yieldable releasing means connecting the door with said member, and means controlled by the relative movement of the member with respect to the door when released for controlling said power mechanism.

3. In combination with aA door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism, the door being releasably connected to said member, means controlled by the relative movement of the member with respect to the door when released for controlling said power mechanism, and manually operatable means to control the power mechanism.

4. In combination with a door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism, the door being releasably connected to said member, said power mechanism embodying an electric motor, and a switch operated by relative movement of the door and said member and in circuit with the motor.

5. In combination with a door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism, the door being releasably connected to said member. said power mechanism embodying an electric motor, a switch operated by relative movement of the door and said member yand in circuit with the motor, and a manually operatable switch in parallel circuit with said first mentioned switch.

6. In combination with a door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism, the door being releasably connected to said member, said power mechanism embodying an electric motor, a normally open switch adapted to be closed when the door and said member move away from each other, and a normally open manually operatable switch, said switches being both in circuit with the motor and being in parallel circuit with each other.

7. In combination witha door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism` the door being releasably connected to said member, means controlled by the relative movement of the member with respect to the door when released for controlling said power mechanism, and means controlled by the position of the power mechanism to control supply of energy to that mechanism. y

8. In 'combination with a door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action ofthe power mechanism. the'door being releasably connected to said member, said power mechanism embodying an electric motor, a switch operated by relative movement o the'door and said member and in circuit with the motor, and a switch operated by the power mechanism and in parallel circuit to said rst mentioned switch.

9. In combination with a door, power mechanism to move the door including a door moving member which moves back and forth by virtue of action of the power mechanism, ithe door being releasably connected to said member, said power mechanism embodying an electric motor, a normally open switch adapted to be closed when the door and said member move away from each other, a normally open manually operatable switch, said switches -being both in circuit with the motor and being in parallel circuit with each other, and sty switch operated by the power mechanism so as to be open in the normal position of rest of that mechanism, said switch being in parallel circuit to the other two mentioned switches.

10. In combination with a door, power mechanism to move the door including a door movingmember which moves back and forth by virtue of action ofthe ower mechanism, the door being releasab y connected to seid member, and means controlled b the rela-tive movement of the member wit respectl to the door when released for controlling said power mechanism, a lock for the door, and means controlled by the action of the power mechanism Ato cause operation of said lock.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto' subscribed my name this 14th day of November, 1918.

GEO. B. VARNUM. Witness:

VIRGINIA BERINGER. 

